Friday, December 01, 2006

Friday 12/01 A.M. Quickie:Eva, Kobe, WhoDey?, LSU, Zito, More

Tony Parker and Eva Longoria got engaged? Here's the over-under of the day: What will come first -- the Spurs' next title or the TP-Eva divorce? I'll take the latter.

More on the top storylines of the day:

Bengals beat Ravens: I could imagine these Bengals playing the role of last year's Steelers in the playoffs: Get in as the 6-seed and make a run. The Bengals have an improving defense that stymied the "Billick Offensive Juggernaut" and an offense that always has the potential to put points up, but last night, against one of the league's best defenses, did just enough to win.

Kobe scores 52: So much for all the talk that his knee problems will keep him from being the same old Kobe we know and talk about the morning after a scoring binge. (Even more impressive is that he did it against the NBA-leading Jazz. And even more impressive than that is that he had a 30-point quarter, which matches his best quarter from the 81-point game. Amazing.)

LSU to Rose Bowl?

This is GREAT on one level: It's a chance for the SEC doubters/haters in the Big Ten (Michigan fans, specifically) to get a taste.

This is IFFY on two levels:

Good "Iffy": If Florida loses to Arkansas, then the Rose Bowl becomes an optimal "3-vs-4" matchup.

Bad "Iffy": If Florida loses to Arkansas, how can the Rose Bowl pass over a 2-loss Gators team that BEAT this 2-loss LSU team head-to-head? (And since the BCS has an out-dated rule that each conference gets a max of 2 spots, the Gators will be shunted off to the CapOne Bowl.)

Forget the Rose Bowl talk (and, for that matter, the SEC championship game): The most important, must-see game of the weekend is Rutgers at West Virginia. A win for RU would put give them the Big East title, put them in the BCS (Orange Bowl) and complete a Cinderella season. (Honestly, if Rutgers wins, I'm not quite sure why the Rose Bowl wouldn't pick Rutgers to play against Michigan.)

Bama coaching search: Spurrier in or out? He says he's staying at South Carolina. Alabama must have really screwed up the offer.

Wade can't lead Heat past Pistons: As long as Shaq is healthy for the playoffs, it's an empty win for Detroit.

(If Joe Dumars was offered Orlando's entire roster for Detroit's entire roster, straight up, do you think he'd make the deal? I'd ask the same thing of Pat Riley. The Magic's 5-year outlook seems much better than the Heat or Pistons' 5-year outlook.)

MLB Hot Stove: Zito-palooza! It's gotten to the point where we simply add "palooza" to any premier free-agent pitcher's last name. (See "Pavanopalooza.") He met with the Rangers, who are like the "nouveau riche" version of the Yankees and Red Sox: They have the money to spend and interest in spending it, but can't seem to convert that into playoff appearances. I like the CW that has Zito joining the Mets.

Bud Selig to retire in 2009: Let's start the speculation now about who would be the best choice to replace him: Peter Gammons? Larry Lucchino? Bob Costas?

I've got an unconventional (if predictable) choice: Theo Epstein. Give him a 30-year contract and watch the New Golden Era of baseball begin.

College Football: Rules to be Central Michigan, which won the MAC championship game over Ohio. Bring on the... uh, GMAC Bowl?

College Hoops: Sucks to be Dan Monson, who resigned (read: was axed) from Minnesota after running the program into the ground. Wonder if he looks back on that Gonzaga program he left and says, "Um...do-over?"

Final thought: I guess Eva's rumored fling with Mario Lopez didn't take. Or TP didn't have a problem with it.

It sucks when your team gets their ass kicked on Thursday night. We have to wait 10 days to play again and everyone focuses on last night's game til Sunday. It is almost physically impossible for the Ravens to finish with less than 11 wins (still play Cleveland and Buffalo at home), so I am not worried about the Division.

sheldiz...where you at? Who dey! Bengals need to stay focused and not look past Oakland. But at Indy for MNF, at Denver on a short week, Pittsburgh at home. That is the hardest 3 game end to a season in the league. If the Bengals finish at 10-6 and are on the outside looking in...it will be an off-season of what if's (ie: SD putting up 42 in a half, the refs fucking them over vs. TB, letting the Ravens go up 14-0 after 2 minutes). And don't give me this shit about off-field issues. The Bengals are 7-5 because they have the hardest schedule in the league and their offensive line is makeshift.

I want to see Rutgers/Louisville vs. Michigan because I want to see just how good the Big East is.

Honestly...if you had to pick a player to take your last shot...I don't know how anyone could not say they'd take Kobe.

Don't agree with your bad iffy... If FL loses, they will be behind LSU in the BCS standings. LSU had the harder out-of-conference schedule, and the harder in-conference schedule, based on their top-25 road schedule. So you're going to suggest the BCS 7 or 8 (just my projection if FL loses) goes to the Rose over the BCS 4? Screw that.

And rutgers would be a good story, but the Rose? Why not pick the better team, and let rutgers go play GTech in the orange (but more likely to be Louisville against GTech in the Orange).

The better option for the orange, though, is boise state. It will allow for better story options, the antiparallel boise in miami, miami in boise. maybe the players can swap apartments for the week, as well as lifestyles. Hell, maybe they can swap positions, and save on the return plane tickets...

College Hoops: Sucks to be Dan Monson: His regime and dismissal will further fuel the speculation that squeaky clean=losing, cheating=winning. Remember, Monson was brought in to clean up after the Clem Haskins mess (after Haskins took a team to the Final Four...by cheating.)

Yup, Monson certainly cleaned it up, but barely could win a game in the Big Ten. And after the Clemson blowout, he had to go.

Don't know why you hate Spurrier, but you must also think he's really stupid if you thought he would accept the Bama offer. Why in the world would he want to do that? I can't really think of a single reason he would want to coach at Bama. Not a single one. USC is a much better job in a lot of ways, especially for someone like Spurrier.

Shanoff, you really should read your own blog. Alabama didn't "screw up" their offer. Spurrier didn't want to go to begin with. I don't know how many different ways Spurrier can say "I don't want the Alabama job," before you media types will actually LISTEN.

i'm here... just woke up. the ravens were straight up outplayed and outcoached last night. we came into it cocky and unprepared. that game took us down a few pegs, but i think the next ten days will be spent circling the wagons (and getting yelled at by billick).

i was so hoping for, at the very least, a good match up.... but i have to admit there were times during the third quarter that i was checking in w/ grey's anatomy.

as far a cincinatti -- i've never had any doubt they're a great team, that can definitely make a run of it, and have showed that the past two weeks in a big way.

cmf -- the weather was a factor, but shouldn't have been. its the f-cking NFL, learn to play in the rain.

as far as bryant gumbel. he's a pretentious ass. he reads a play by play like he's performing (poorly) in masterpeice theatre.

so, i've babbled enough now.... not a great night for the Ravens, but a little wake up call never hurt anyone. and i have to hand it to the bengals, they definitely had our number.

oh jon, now you've done it.... its about to get real gainsville around here. :)

yeah, nova would have been sick w/ the addition of Sumpter last year... but i almost think it would have messed with the chemistry of the 4 guards. they were kind of forced into that role and made it work. who knows what would have happened if we were leaning on Sumpter the whole season.

but yeah, we really need to stop losing to the eventual champs. that's getting old.

I know I said that the Cincinnati was a stud but I have to thank them for giving up that last minute TD pass. I has McNair in as my QB for Fantasy and that saved his day from being compelete crap. Yes, I know why would I have McNair becuase my other QB's to start the season sucked or got benched

Kobe Bryant: Slam-Dunk GiantI think it may be official: Best Scorer of All-Time

After the 81-point game last year, which was the greatest scoring preformance ever, (even better than Wilt's 100, http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/insider/columns/story?columnist=hollinger_john&id=2303136) Kobe said he could never have 100 points in a game. But i don't think that's true.

I don't even know if I'd actually consider Paris or Nicole Ritchie "stars" or overrated as I would assume people agree they have no talent and aren't particularly attractive. okay, i need to stop - why even discuss these two.

I completely agree with your thoughts on Gumbel, though. Easily the worst commentator I've heard in years.

I curious to see how Glendale handles the logistics of two BCS games back-to-back. Will the place just be a swarm during the week, as one pair of teams leave and another set arrive? Will the actual Fiesta Bowl suffer as a warm-up bowl? This is the crap they throw us as to why the bowl system is better than a playoff....nobody wants to see bowls diminished in stature....I want to see that proven or disproven, and now we'll have a small chance to see it.

A Michigan/Rutgers Rose Bowl would be awful. I am a huge Michigan fan and I wouldn't even want to watch that game. Give me LSU and it would be a competitive game. Wouldn't mind getting Florida though and seeing Michigan beat them in another bowl game.

Speaking as a Michigan fan, I think LSU is the best opponent right now that isn't from Columbus. Looking at the last few weeks, they have been much scarier-looking than Florida. They might even be the second best team in the country. And YES, I know that Florida beat LSU some weeks back, but that does not necessarily make Florida the better team (witness: Oregon State).

Of course, I'm predicting that Florida will lose to Arkansas, so if they win that, they may win me over.

How is Michigan or Florida not screaming their damn heads off for not having a shot at the National Championship? Given the "they had their shot argumnet" is a pretty decent one (when ND still had a glimer of hope I was shouting this too), it doesn't change the fact that USC lost to an UNRANKED team this year...this has to be taken into account somewhere doesn't it?

I preface this by saying I don't really follow the NBA - however, given the talent level surrounding Kobe of late its tough to say he isn't one of the best scorers/players of all time. When he needs to come up big when no one on his team can, he does and he does in a big way. He led a team of nobodies to the playoffs last year and when given the supporting cast he won three championships. When I do watch, its simply amazing the stuff he does on the court, he's explosive to the hole, can pull up and shoot and he plays defense. Numbers be damned, the guy is probably the best all round player in the league (not just a low post scorer, plays D, can drive and dish can shoot the lights out and can hit the game winner like Jordon used to).

ndyanks:Word from Stewart Mandel is, if LSU gets shafted this year from the Rose Bowl, that could shake things up like so:1. BCS Commish is from LSU2. Same guy is in favor of a plus-one game3. One more year to bitch over will push him to act

That scenario creates a system where the #2 gets their shot at the #1 at the very end, be it Michigan or Florida or LSU or whomever. And, historically, there haven't been more than two legitimate contenders after the bowl season (including the #1 team), for whatever reason. Plus, the BCS would likely conspire to pit the four best teams together in the bowls, in such a scenario.

NDYanks, check the link I posted above. UF's President lobbied some for it.

I think Florida for the most part is concentrating on the SEC Championship. We'll start lobbying if we win, although it might be too late.

To those who think LSU would be a better game. You do know LSU lost to Florida 23-10 right?

What I hate about this situation is everyone is crapping on Florida for being 11-1 and having a "bad offense." The problem is everyone was expecting Urban Meyer to step in and put together his unbelievable offense that no one could touch. I was a skeptic, it's not the Fun and Gun, but it gets the job done.

Lost in all this is how great UF's defense has been. No one has scored more than 27 on us. That 27 was Auburn and they scored 15 on a blocked punt, a safety, and fumble rec TD as time expired when we tried running a Cal/Stanford play. Outside of that we haven't allowed more than 20 points!

The only way I see that LSU does not go to the Rose Bowl is if Florida is in the National Championship Game and then the Rose Bowl would be Michigan vs USC no question. And in that case they would have not reason to complain as USC as the PAC-10 champ automatically gets the Rose and Michigan would be #3 and from the BIG-10 which has a Rose Bowl tie in

Let's suppose that USC barely wins the title game and one-loss Florida blows Michigan out in a bowl game (if they even get the chance to play them).

Florida should be #1, not USC and certainly NOT Michigan. In this scenario, OHST lost their biggest game, Michigan choked twice and so we have USC and Florida as teams who won their biggest games and have one loss.

Well Florida lost to Auburn and USC lost to Oregon State one week later in the season. Who's the best team now? I'd say Florida. But since USC won the championship game, they'll get the nod.

That's why offensive style points shouldn't count. The computer rankings had to remove margin of victory, but somehow voters don't. The whole thing stinks, and I don't even care about Florida. It violates my sense of order and fairness.

I'm screamin', ndyanks... but nobody's listening anymore. And I think we all learned from the Manninghams, there's little to be gained from screaming the same thing over and over again.

Here's the thing about the BCS bowls... I don't want Michigan to play a team that I think is BS (Big East, Boise State, ACC), but I do want those teams to all lose to... I mean, play... teams from real conferences. A Big East/ACC matchup, or especially a Big East/Boise State game, would be the worst thing possible for the BCS to put together. The whole idea was disambiguating results that are based on a schedule lacking interconference competition. It's sometimes dangerous to pin a whole conference's merit on the success of the conference champ in a single game, but I say, if your best team can't get up for their biggest game, they must not be that good.

All that said, I would love love love to see the look on DS's face near the end of a UM-UF Rose Bowl. I'd like to know if your Gators can cash all those checks your keyboard wrote. Failing that, it would be a great exercise if the country got to see UM-LSU and Wisconsin-UF. Let's see how this SEC matches up with the Big Ten, up and down.

Florida blows Michigan out in a bowl game (if they even get the chance to play them).

That's a nice hypo, but no--UF has no chance of playing Michigan. UM will get the Rose Bowl and UF will get the Sugar Bowl (if they beat Arkansas). Just the way these things work. If you want to see Michigan and Florida in a bowl game against each other, then whether you know it or not you advocate a playoff system.

Which is what I'm saying. This is another year--if UF and USC both win this weekend--when a +1 "playoff" system would solve the issue.

Anyone know that since the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll is no longer associated with the BCS if they have to Give there final #1 and name there National Champion based on the winner of the NCS or can if say OSU loses vote and name whoever they want as national champ.

Cinci is going to the Super Bowl, they get the Raiders next week, then a tough MNF game with the Colts, followed up by the Broncos (whom they can beat, yes in denver too) and the sorry steelers. We all know the JETS will lose a trash game and KC could be upset by Cleveland this week.

Kobe 52 was amazing, 30 in the 3rd was more impressive, this guy is a machine, the Lakers look like the real deal this year and I hate saying that.

Kobe MAY be a better scorer than MJ was, however MJ was better at EVERYTHING else.

Thats why MJ is still the best basketball player ever.

I think its hilarious that ND was denied to get into the Rose Bowl. Finally, someone in the BCS is waking up.

I think Zito would be smart if he went to the Mets. He would be pitching against far lesser talent in the NL than if he stayed in the AL, thus his numbers would look much better. Then again, he is going to be making huge cash, so why would he care?

And I think I was maybe 1 out of 3 people (out of about 50 total) yesterday that said, yes SAID, that Cincinnati was going to beat Baltimore. The Curse may apply to Dan Shanoff, but it does not apply to Dan Mega!

I agree with cmfost comparing the Wilt game versus the Kobe game. Plus, Wilt had a ton of assists and rebounds that game too, so it was overall domination. Not just guys giving the ball to Kobe, then Kobe driving and dunking every time.

I think he would've scored more in this era but that he might not be considered the best player of all-time.

Someone said that MJ should obviously be considered for "Best Scorer" but no one mentioned him.

This is because Jordan wasn't on that level when it comes to scoring. He was however easily the best player ever.

Why is that?

It's because there are two sides of the ball. And yes I know the ball is round and there are no sides. I'm talking about offense/defense. Jordan was also the 2nd best defender of his era (The Glove being better).

But Jordan's D was based on what was deffinitly a whole lot of fouling according to today's rules. The guy invented the elbow tap. It was genious and legal cause thenadays it wasn't called.

Sure, MJ is the best ever all-around and he might have even been the best scorer ever if the Knicks and Pistons didn't exist and the rules were a little different - rules he took full advantage of on offense and defense, btw.

But things weren't different, so Wilt is the best scorer ever. On and off the court...lol

Does Kobe have the most talent ever? Maybe. It's more competitive than when MJ was in the league. Players are faster, stronger, better coached.

It seems funny to me that Kobe has only made two mistakes and no one likes him for both. 1st one is Shaq never liked him and 2nd sleeping with a colorado groupie. Other than that, he is just as competitive as MJ, scores better, plays D as well, and is now starting to share the ball like MJ did. MJ's teammates hated his competitiviness with everything. All that only came out after he played and was considered great. When will Kobe get a fair shake??

Just watch an old Bulls game on ESPN Classic. MJ was damn exciting to watch. And, yes, you must be a good defender to be considered the best ever, all-around.

RE: End of season rankingsI'd like to bring up that people are mentioning ridiculously hypothetical situations, and getting mad about them. If OSU loses small and Michigan loses huge, the reason it shakes things up beyond the system's ability to handle it is because it will defy everything we've seen this season if it happens. Any hypothetical that begins with, "If _____ gets blown out," is not worthy of any more than a moment's consideration.

First, let's let the games go down before we start getting angry about things that are exceedingly unlikely to occur.

Kobe is a jerk. Who else would shove a Hall of Fame center off of his team? Who else would feud with Phil Jackson? There's no defending Kobe. He's a first ballot Hall of Fame jerk.

I'm not sure there's been a better player with a worse reputation since Ty Cobb. Maybe Derrick Coleman, but he never performed while being a jerk. He never achieved anything to throw it all away.

Kobe is going to end up with, along with LA, at least 2 fewer titles than he could have had. And who would they have picked up if Shaq was still there? Not Glove and Mourning, but probably Ben Wallace, Steve Nash and Boozer. In the hands of Jackson, they might have won a record number of games. Kobe might have been presiding over a historic dynasty, not another lackluster team with one real star.

Of course, this is all speculation, but the Lakers were very nearly impossible to beat in a playoff series with Shaq and Kobe together and with a couple more years to put together role players for Jackson, they could have blown a lot of records away.

The "postseason" part of college football is completely mistifying to me. Shouldn't we be concerned with hypotheticals? Isn't the whole system based on hypothetical conjecture? The Big Ten is weak, but OhSt. beat Michigan and beat Texas and Michigan beat Notre Dame and...

I'm taking Eva on the over. She doesn't play. Apparently, she's getting an NBA player to close the deal. Kudos just for that. And remember when Tony got caught in NY with some chick? Eva went all the way to France to put him in check.

Lindsay Lohan is actually a good actress. Shame...

Kobe is arguably the best player in the league, but he is definitely the biggest a-hole in the NBA. I can't even watch the Lakers anymore. He makes my skin crawl. Yeah, I should probably get some help for my anger issues.

Connect With Me

Quickish

About This Blog

DanShanoff.com is a sports-blog spin-off of my long-time ESPN.com column, "The Daily Quickie." Anchored by an early-morning post of must-know topics, the blog is updated frequently throughout the day with new posts and user comments.